Agenda
• Do Now
• Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Extension
• DSSC dye discussion
Lesson Objectives
• SWBAT compare the effectiveness of different fruit
juices as dyes for DSSCs.
Do Now
• What do you think you will observe if the dye from
a different fruit does not work as well as the
blackberry juice?
• What is an advantage of dye-sensitized solar cells
over standard solar cells?
1
Pick either blueberries and
strawberries and remake the DSSC
2
Anthocyanin structure
Conjugated
double bond
system
Anthocyanins are pigments that
produce many of the colors we see
• Cherries
• Eggplants
• Red cabbage (has over
30 types of
anthocyanins!)
Pigments in blackberries
What if you just used one of the
pigments in blackberries as the dye
for a DSSC?
Hydrangeas
• Contains anthocyanins
• Color dependent on the
soil pH
• Acidic soil – blue flowers
• Basic soil – pink/red
• Slightly acidic/neutral –
purple or a mix of blue
and pink
• Depends on species of
hydrangea
Post Lab Questions
• 1. What differences did you observe between the
blackberry cell you made yesterday and today's cell?
• 2. Why are blackberries an effective source of
dye? What are the essential chemical features of an
effective dye?
• 3. Do you think apples or raspberries would be more
likely to work as a source of dye for solar cells?